MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION UPDATING CITY CHARTER TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The next bill is Introductory Number 604,
sponsored at the request of the Administration by Council Members Rivera, James,
Martinez, Sears, Gentile, Mealy and the Public Advocate, Betsy
Gotbaum.

"Introductory Number 604 codifies in the
City Charter an expansion of duties and powers of the Office of the Chief
Medical Examiner (OCME). The OCME has primarily been responsible for
determining the cause and the manner of all sudden, violent, or unexpected
deaths. However, with advances in forensic science, OCME's
responsibilities have expanded much further to include DNA analysis of
homicides, assaults, property crimes, and other offenses - which have been
enhanced by OCME's new DNA laboratory that we opened earlier this year.
This bill ensures that OCME will continue its important work as technologies
change and we employ new, innovative approaches to solving crime, and reflects
the new, true scope of OCME's duties and responsibilities.

"I would like to thank the Office of the
Chief Medical Examiner, headed by Dr. Charles Hirsch, for its commitment and
dedication. I would also like to thank the Council for approving this
legislation."